Uber Reiterates its Commitment to Driver Partners in India; Rollsout Driver Insurance Program with ICICI Lombard

Uber, the world’s largest ridesharing company, has announced the roll out of a series of product innovations, programs and partnerships  aimed at making driving for Uber an attractive choice for driver partners across India. Among them was the country’s first ridesharing insurance program. In partnership with ICICI Lombard General Insurance, the policy provides driver partners with free coverage for accidental death and disablement, hospitalization, and outpatient medical treatment in case of an accident while online on the Uber App and are available for trip requests, en route or on a trip with Uber.

"These announcements are a reflection of our efforts  to meaningfully impact and improve the driving experience. Today, we want to celebrate the more than 450,000 drivers across India, and the lengths they go to to make all of our cities move better,” said Pradeep Parameswaran, Head of Central Operations, India, Uber. “We are aware of the special responsibility we have to do our best for the drivers who use the app to earn a livelihood. These innovations and partnerships are a reflection of our commitment to listen, act and enable our drivers to experience the ‘Apnapan’ while driving for Uber.Today, we’re thrilled to announce something that driver partners have asked for the most: insurance. We are partnering with ICICI Lombard, the largest private sector non-life insurer in India, to offer our driver partners accident insurance. This partnership will provide a safety net for our driver partners who keep our cities moving. This is just the beginning, we’ll continue to engage with our driver partners and work towards making driving for Uber, not just the most attractive opportunity but also the most preferred choice.”

What’s New for Driver partners:

• First of its kind Insurance program:

This first-of-its-kind insurance program will provide driver partners (aged 18 to 65) of four-wheeled vehicles intended to carry passengers with coverage for accidental death and disablement, hospitalization and outpatient medical treatment in case of an accident while using the Uber App and are available for trip requests, en route or on a trip with Uber. The unique insurance cover will be offered for free to the driver partners, giving them peace of mind while enjoying the flexibility of independent work.

Cover under this program is will go live as of September 1, 2017. The coverage offered includes Rs. 5 lakh in the event of death, up to Rs. 5 lakh for permanent disability, up to Rs. 2 lakh in the event of hospitalization, with a sub-limit of up to Rs. 50,000 for outpatient treatment.

Commenting on the occasion, Bhargav Dasgupta, MD & CEO ICICI Lombard General Insurance said, “At ICICI Lombard General Insurance, we are excited to partner with Uber India and introduce this unique insurance proposition for their driver partners. ICICI Lombard has always been at the forefront in terms of introducing non-life insurance solutions that address the emerging trends and changing market dynamics. This insurance program is a step forward in that direction.”

• In-app Products to enhance the driving experience

As Uber’s driver community has grown over the years, the technology and services provided to drivers has evolved.Whether that’s creating more flexible ways to earn money, fixing navigation issues or helping partners reduce their operating costs, thousands of people work around the clock to build features and technological innovations that best meet the needs of driver partners. Here’s some of Uber’s newest and most recent product innovations for the driver app:

Driver Destinations: Twice a day, drivers can input their destination and Uber will only send trip requests that are on their way helping reduce driver cancellations and unavailability.For e.g. if the driver keys in Connaught Place and he is in Gurgaon, then he will get ride requests that match the route from Gurgaon to CP, he will not be sent in the opposite direction. 

Back-to-Back Trips: Drivers receive their next trip request, while they are a couple of minutes away from completing their current trip. This helps reduce idle time for drivers and ensures riders get a car at the earliest

Pause Requests: After receiving feedback from a driver event earlier this year, Uber introduced a “pause button,” so driver partners could grab lunch, get fuel or a take a quick break.

Heat Maps: The heat map provides drivers with recommended areas where they’re most likely to get their next ride depending on demand and supply at that location. That means less time waiting for a trip and less fuel wasted.

Telematics for Road Safety: A unique technological innovation that monitors and assesses driving patterns and helps provide feedback to driver partners. Through this technology Uber is able to share daily reports with partners on driving patterns, speed of the vehicle and reminds them to take breaks and keep the phone mounted while driving.

Paid waiting time: With this feature, a driver who reaches the rider’s pickup location and waits longer than a fixed duration will be eligible for paid wait time. This ensures drivers earn on the Uber platform, when they reach the rider’s pickup location and wait longer than a fixed duration for the trip to begin.

Cancellation window: The drivers can see a countdown timer in their app when they reach the rider’s pickup location. After waiting for a fixed duration, they may choose to cancel and will be eligible for Cancellation Fee.

In App Chat: This feature allows driver partners to message their rider once they reach the pickup destination. This is means drivers no longer need to call a rider if they’re using  In App Chat.

Driver Profiles & Compliments: This feature lets riders see the driver’s profile with metrics like total trips, compliments and comments received from other riders. This promotes a healthy conversation between rider and driver. Riders also have the option to give compliment badges to the drivers based on the experience they had on the trip. This helps drivers see their performance in the form of badges received from riders.

Partnerships and Initiatives to help driver’s experience ‘Apnapan’

To make the driver experience easier, hassle free and safer Uber has introduced several initiatives and partnerships nationally and regionally. Uber recognises that listening to their driver partners is one the most important methods to constantly enhance the driver experience on the App.

• UberSAMAAJ, is Uber’s flagship driver community engagement program to encourage driver partners to share their concerns and work closely with them in finding a mutually agreeable solutions.
• Uber announced that “Night Support” for driver partners would be extended from 12 hours (8 AM - 8 PM) to 18 hours (6 AM - 12 midnight) while continuing to offer emergency assistance from 12 midnight - 6 AM
• Programs like UberSHAAN and UberFAUJI help make the platform more inclusive. Uber has also launched a Driver skills training program in partnership with the National Skill Development Corporation.
• Uber also partnered with AISECT to pilot a program to create whatsapp enabled modules to teach drivers basic English conversational skills

SABIC Restores Government Primary School at Sompura in Karnataka

SABIC, a global leader in diversified chemicals, inaugurated the newly renovated, school building of ‘Government Primary School’, located at Sompura near SABIC Technology Center (STC) site Sarjapura, under SABIC’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiative in collaboration with its NGO partner Rotary Bangalore South. Chief Guest, Tanvir Sait, Minister of Primary and Secondary education, Government of Karnataka and dignitaries from the state government, education department and panchayat, graced the event.

Tanvir Sait, Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, Government of Karnataka, who couldn’t make it to the inauguration event, sent his best wishes and appreciating SABIC said, “I highly appreciate SABIC’s efforts to carry out the construction of dilapidated school under their CSR Initiative in collaboration with Rotary, which is a great example for other corporates to follow.”  

SABIC, in collaboration with Rotary Bangalore South, embarked upon the renovation and reconstruction of Government Primary School in 2016. The deterioration of the school building due to its age, mainly catering to the children from less privilege rural backgrounds, had led to a drop in students’ strength over a period of time.

Janardhanan Ramanujalu, Vice President, SABIC, South Asia & ANZ said, “The modernization and restoration of the school demonstrates SABIC’s commitment to continually improving the lives of the communities it operates in, as well as its support of education. SABIC has been supporting education in many ways including school infrastructure upgradation in Bengaluru and Vadodara. Renovation of theschool building in and around Sarjapura has helped us in providing better learning environment to the children. With the restoration of the school, SABIC aims to provide equal access to education and reduce the infrastructure gaps to provide better facilities for students from less privileged rural back grounds. ”

SABIC undertook the reconstruction of the school over a period of 7 months, which included reconstruction of classrooms, principal’s room, renovation of kitchen area, construction of separate toilets for boys and girls, renovation of new assembly area for morning assembly, new play area equipment for the playground, purification system for providing drinking water facility for the school, installation of CCTV security cameras and finally the whole structure was painted to give the school a new life. Apart from the reconstruction of Sompura lower primary school, SABIC provided drinking water filters, benches, school bags, note books, library books, almirah for library, in 10 schools in the nearby areas. We also donated an E-Learning system in two schools in Sarjapura, Anekal Taluk to help improve the education facilities.

Kishan Gurram, Director & Site Head, SABIC Technology Center, Bengaluru reiterated SABIC’s commitment to education by stating that after renovation of the school, students’ strength has increased and it has also helped provide a conducive and safe learning environment for the children.

With employee engagement at the core of SABIC’s corporate social responsibility, SABIC employees volunteers across India spent over 350 hours volunteering for the initiative in last two years, working closely with the program partners and supporting with on-ground logistics. This school was also included for various CSR activities that are organized by SABIC in schools such as They See, They Learn, vision screening program of SABIC, health check camps, Teacher’s Day education awareness activities and school bags distribution.

PP Sridhar BR, Ex- President Rotary Bangalore South said, “We have been partnering with SABIC on the modernization and restoration of schools in Sarjapura for the past 3 years and the impact generated through the efforts is noteworthy. Primary education is an important area that requires urgent attention and is vital for strengthening the education system in our country.”

In alignment with SABIC’s global CSR policy, SABIC in India focuses its CSR efforts on the promotion of education, with special attention to less-privileged children and youth. As a part of our CSR efforts to support sustainable education, SABIC has in the past restored and upgraded schools with enhanced infrastructure and is working on more such projects. SABIC runs several initiatives in coordination with CIPET at either end of the know-how spectrum supporting the National skill development objective.

SABIC in Asia, through our signature Lights of Our Future program, with a syllabus created by SABIC employee-volunteers, teaches young children about saving water, conserving energy, managing waste, and reducing our carbon footprint. The program has reached more than 2,100 students in Singapore and China this year.

Airtel Payments Bank-Mastercard Powered Online Cards Cross Two Million Users

Airtel Payments Bank-Mastercard poweredonline Debit and Prepaid cards clocked a major milestone, crossing two million users in India within five months of the launch. This innovative digital payments solution enables Airtel Payments Bank customers to make secure and convenient digital payments at over 100,000 ecommerce websites and other online portals.

  

The online card can be accessed by all Airtel Payments Bank customers via the My Airtel app inside the bank section.

This achievement comes close on the heels of the recently launched Digital Evolution Index, an exclusive report that was recently commissioned by Mastercard and the Fletcher School at Tufts University. It places India among the Break-Out economies, hinting at the country’s strong potential to emerge as a full-fledged digital economy. 

Commenting on the feat, Shashi Arora, MD & CEO, Airtel Payments Bank said, “We are delighted with the customer response to our online debit and prepaid cards that further validates the growing acceptance of our digital payment platform in India. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Mastercard for their continued support via the payments processing platform, ensuring safe, innovative and fast payments.”

Porush Singh, Country Corporate Officer, India and Division President, South Asia, Mastercard said, “It is heartening to see that cards issued by Airtel Payments Bank have clocked such an impressive growth. As the payments processing partner, we are pleased to collaborate with Airtel Payments Bank to offer a safer, innovative and faster payments experience to its customers. Such a significant growth for online debit and prepaid cards also indicates a rising tendency to shop online, besides an increasing receptivity among consumers to embrace cashless practices.”

Mastercard’s processing platform for Airtel Payments Bank enables a range of payment services including switching, card management, along with support for reconciliation and dispute management processes. This processing platform is supported by Mastercard’s state-of-the-art payment Technology Center in Pune.

BIAL and Accenture Set Up Co-Innovation Centre Aimed to Transform Passenger Experience and Creating a Future-Ready Airport

Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) has signed an agreement with Accenture to set up a co-innovation center that will help BIAL create an airport of the future at the Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (BLR Airport). The center will incubate and develop digital solutions using future-ready technologies to provide more engaging passenger experience.

BIAL has embarked on an ambitious journey to create a digitized and intuitive destination airport for travelers. Accenture will help define a digital roadmap for BIAL and develop tailor made solutions using a combination of digital technologies including Internet of Things, advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, robotics, augmented and virtual reality, in addition to social and mobile platforms.

The focus of the digital transformation is to improve the traveler’s journey, create new revenue opportunities and realize operational efficiencies through an agile approach for BIAL and its business partners.

The BIAL-Accenture Co-Innovation Centre will be located at the airport. Drawing on Accenture’s travel and aviation expertise, the center will incubate ideas identified in the digital roadmap. It will also involve current and new ecosystem partners as well as start-ups from BIAL and Accenture’s networks. This center will tap the Accenture Innovation Architecture, focused on the travel industry.

Executive Director and President of BIAL Hari Marar said: “BIAL is moving forward into the next phase of its digital transformation journey. We understand that it is key for our business to reflect the new reality of the industry in which we operate. In today’s digitally agile world, customers expect us to be completely aware and in tune with their needs to enable more intelligent interactions.”

“Working with Accenture will help us embrace this shift and build a powerful experience that will continue to transform our airport’s culture and enhance the customer’s airport experience by introducing innovative and interactive digital solutions. Ultimately, our aim is to create greater value for our passengers,” he added.

“The digital, on-demand economy has changed customer expectations across industries, and is creating brand new opportunities for airports at the center of the global travel experience,” said Anindya Basu, country managing director, Accenture in India. “We are excited about joining BIAL in its digital innovation journey, helping deliver a frictionless travel experience to today’s digitally savvy consumers.”

Turner India and Amazon Prime Video Announce Content Alliance to Bring Cartoon Network’s Favourite Shows for their Young Audience

In a significant move for the Indian video on demand industry, Turner India and Amazon Prime Video have announced a strategic tie-up that will see Cartoon Network’s popular kids shows play on Amazon Prime Video. This content licensing deal will see Cartoon Network’s Ben 10 (Classic), Ben 10: Alien Force, Ben 10: Ultimate Alien, Ben 10 Omniverse, Grim Adventures of Billy Mandy, Johnny Bravo, Powerpuff Girls (Classic), Kumbh Karan, Roll No. 21 and Dexter’s Laboratory and many more shows that will play on Amazon Prime Video under the Kids & Family TV section.

Kids today are consuming and engaging with their favourite content across diverse screens such as computers and mobile screens. This is increasing with the emergence of new OTT platforms and the rise in use of apps for games as an entertainment and learning activity. 

Turner, a pioneer in the kids’ entertainment space in India, has been at the forefront of providing engaging experiences to kids both on TV and beyond and the collaboration with Amazon Prime Video reaffirms Turner’s commitment to engage with its fans anytime, anywhere.

IDE’s 17th Edition Design Mission India in Bengaluru on Oct 26-27

Indian Government’s initiative of streamlining the real estate segment with policies like Real Estate Regulatory Act (RERA) and Goods and Services Tax (GST) have given positive signals for the real estate sector in general and housing segment in particular.  Identifying the right suppliers and partners is the now the decisive need of the hour for the real estate business. To facilitate the connection, IDE Consulting Services, a leader in the field of B2B events, is hosting the 17th Edition of Design Mission India October 26 to 27, 2017 in Bengaluru at Hotel Lalit Ashok.

Design Mission India is a unique business forum that brings together the prime suppliers and crème de la crème of the procurement specialists from India’s Real Estate segment. It is a unique closed-door initiative in which the buyers and suppliers interact in a unique pre-scheduled face-to-face meeting format, making it the ultimate platform for real estate professionals in India.

Ganesh Babu, Director, IDE Consulting Services said, “More than 90% of the world’s infrastructure projects are either delayed or over-budgeted. This is happening even though we have modern construction techniques readily available such as pre-fabricated modules and off-site manufacturing techniques.”

He adds, “It is almost as though the whole world has moved on to broadband internet, but the construction industry is still stuck using the dial-up connection. The focus needs to move towards technology adaptation to streamline the procurement processes. Though the pace of change is slow, platforms such as Design Mission India are curated to take this challenge head on and make a difference to the sector.”

In the weeks leading up to the summit, developers will engage with pre-qualified suppliers via an online bidding platform to identify solutions for their upcoming and ongoing projects. These online interactions will give them a decisive advantage as building codes often differ from city to city and the pressure is on to complete the project on time and on schedule.

When the buyers and suppliers eventually meet at the summit, the need for basic introductions is eliminated and the discussions are centered on business straight away. This is one of the reasons why KENWIN has chosen to be a Platinum Partner of Design Mission India.

Kottaram Ramesh, Director & CEO, KENWIN said, “We chose to participate in Design Mission India because we are confident that this initiative will enable us to enter into various real estate sectors in India – especially the residential, commercial and hospitality sectors.

We have collaborated with C3 systems, Spain, the finest designers and manufacturers of frameless glass solutions in Europe to bring this innovative and advanced technology to India, Sri Lanka and other ASEAN countries.”      

There will be many innovative products on display at the summit. One such innovative product is the SEEGLASS and HABITAT range of frameless glass solutions. They provide a seamless and unobstructed view of the scenery outside the balcony, apartment or villa while giving protection from rain, dust and heavy wind. This exclusive technology is brought to India by KENWIN.

Uber New In-App Chat and Multi-Destination in India Aims for Seamless Ride Experience

Uber, the ridesharing app that connects riders with driver partners to provide convenient, reliable and affordable rides at the push of a button, today announced a phased  roll out of two new features namely ‘In-app chat’ and ‘multi-destination’ to make the Uber experience as frictionless as possible for riders and drivers alike.

The in-app chat feature aims to help riders and driver partners get in touch with one another to provide information such as their exact location. As a result, coordinating the pickup can be faster and cost effective, since they don’t have to switch between apps or incur call charges. Both riders and driver partners will see if their chats are delivered and read, helping to confirm the other actually received the communication. They can even choose to communicate in their preferred local language, if required. This features also means that regardless of where they are located across the globe, riders and drivers won’t have to share their phone number with one another should they have to get in touch.

How the In-app chat feature works:

·  When connected to a driver, a rider should go to the Uber feed and tap “contact” and then “chat”

·  During a POOL trip, the feature lets the driver partner know which rider sent the chat

·  Both riders and driver partners will see if their chats are delivered and read, helping to confirm the other received the communication